How to Spray Plum Trees

Report This Article

How to Spray Plum Trees

Overview

Plum trees are easy to grow once a maintenance plan has been created. There are several varieties of plum trees available with some reaching a height and spread up to 20 feet. Plum trees are susceptible to several fungal infections and require spraying on an annual basis throughout the growing season. Pruning the tress annually assists with size control and makes spraying less labor intensive. General maintenance and care of the trees increases their health and prevents the introduction of disease.

Step 1

Prune last season's new growth by approximately 20 percent during the dormant season. Remove all broken and diseased branches.

Step 2

Spray plum trees during the dormant period with dormant oil for trees. This will prevent aphid and mite egg production.

Step 3

Spray trees in the spring with a fungicide to prevent brown rot as the blossoms begin to appear. Spray two to three times if the weather is rainy to make sure that the trees get a thorough application.

Step 4

Spray organic neem oil or zinc sulfate on the tree if aphids are present on the tree in the spring.

Step 5

Spray the trees with fixed copper at the time of leaf fall or before heavy rains begin. This will prevent shot hole fungus growth.

Things You'll Need

Tree pruner

Mist tree sprayer

Dormant tree oil

Tree fungicide

Organic neem oil

Zinc sulfate

Fixed copper

References

University of California: Plum & Prune

Mississippi State University Extension: Homeowner Peach & Plum Insect and Disease Control

About this Author

Jennifer Loucks has over 10 years of experience as a former technical writer for a software development company in Wisconsin. Her writing experience includes creating software documentation and help documents for clients and staff along with training curriculum. Loucks holds a Bachelor of Science major from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls specializing in animal science and business.